Proceedings Paper

A microscope having a high effective numerical aperture is achieved in an apparatus in which a real, 3D image is formed of an object placed along the axis of one of two facing concave mirrors and is acquired by a video camera, preferably a CCD, positioned along the axis of the other mirror. The image acquired by the CCD is electronically stored and then analyzed. Magnification is introduced by the spacing of the sensors of the CCD array. With exemplary CCD sensor spacing of 10 microns, resolution of about 10 microns (10-5 meters) is achievable using commercial 8-inch diameter concave mirrors. The high numerical aperture of the reflecting microscope offers the advantages of being able to more rapidly acquire an image at a lower light level than is possible with a slit lamp microscope which requires that the object be physically scanned with a high intensity light.